Il Mulino Review

Il Mulino (Swan Resort) is on of ONLY five sit-down eateries we patronize at WDW. This is our review of our 25th Anniversary Dinner on 2/14/10.

1) We arrived early for our 5:00pm ressie.
2) Since they don not seat until 5:00pm, we sat in the bar.
. . . I had a Canadian Club Manhattan (up) x2
. . . wife had a White Zinfandel
3) Table:
. . . we were seated promptly at 5:02pm
. . . the hostess had to ask our name, again (a little gauche)
. . . they tried to seat us at a table-for-two, on a main aisle
. . . I said I wanted the 4-top along the wall - no problem
. . . for fine dining, I do not sit on main aisles or near a server station
6) Service - as usual, superb
. . . as with a fine eatery, we had two attendants
. . . we had a waitress and a server
. . . additionally, the sommelier would circle and stop by our table frequently
7) Food
. . . we shared the antipasti (prosciutto di carne)
. . . wife had a veal parm (Vitello Parmigiana)
. . . my dinner was the red snapper with tomatoes (Dentice)
. . . wife had mixed berries for dessert (Frutti Di Bosco Con Zabaglione)
. . . dessert was cheesecake (Cheesecake Italiano)
. . . she had a White Zin along with dinner, which was OK
. . . my wine was the 1/2 bottle of white (Pinot Grigio), which was average *
. . . with dessert, I also had a 20-year Tawny Port
8) We thought the food was well above average and service was excellent
. . . we expected good food
. . . great service always heightens the experience
. . . and, enhances the food
9) Comparable to anything in New York or San Francisco
10) Total price, excluding tax and tip, $151.45 for two.
11) Well worth the cost.

NOTE: This is only one of five sit-down eateries we patronize at WDW. The
service is always exquisite and the food very-good-to-excellent. I want to feel pampered at a fine dinner, and IL Mulino does this to their patrons.

NOTE2: * Frequently, we did not buy great-to-exquisite wines at dinner, as wife had carne (meat) and I had pesce (fish). She does not like a dry wine, thus I can't buy a full bottle, so I settle for average-to-above-average wine splits.

NOTE3: They knew it was our 25th anniversary. As with any fine restaurant, they did not go overboard with balloons or anything, but the waiters, servers, sommelier and manager all wished us "Happy Anniversary" several times each. Nice touch!

I love Il Mulino! During a recent "no kids" trip with a friend (both he and I are major Disney freaks, with each of us having 15+ visits to WDW under our belts), we agreed that Il Mulino was the best meal of our trip (which also included visits to bluezoo, Cal Grill and Sanaa). And, even better, I am going back in a month with my kids and we are eating at Il Mulino again. I can't wait!